The heat is on!
In this month’s Expert Interview, Dr. Ram Tamang, my Ayurvedic doctor, and I chatted about how summertime can get us all sorts of fired up, and not always in a good way. If you didn’t check out that sit-down sesh, click here and be ready to learn and laugh.
During Pitta Season – aka hot summer days – we can become edgier, especially if we fan the flames with certain foods and drinks.
When working with Ayurvedic principles, the way to counteract an imbalance is to do the opposite. In addition to the movements I mentioned last week, you can also help bring your body back into harmony simply by going into your kitchen and adding Pitta-pacifying techniques to your daily meals.
To help understand what foods will throw you into a Pitta imbalance or bring you out of the imbalanced state, think in terms of tastes.
The tastes that increase Pitta are:
*pungent (ex: cayenne pepper, chili pepper, black pepper, onion, radish, garlic, mustard, ginger)
*sour (ex: citrus, sour cream, yogurt, cheese, vinegar, green grapes)
*salty (ex: salt)
The tastes that help reduce Pitta are:
*sweet (ex: sugars, milk, rice, wheat )
*bitter (ex: turmeric, dandelion root, aloe vera, coffee, rhubarb)
*astringent (ex: unripe banana, pomegranate, chickpeas, green beans, alfalfa sprouts)
Here is a decent list to help you make empowered choices as you cool your inner fire and reduce Pitta.
Fruits to reduce Pitta:
*Good news, generally most sweet fruits fall into this category!
*apples (sweet)
*applesauce
*apricots
*avocados
*berries (sweet)
*cherries (sweet)
*coconut
*dates
*figs
*grapes (red and purple)
*limes (in moderation)
*ripe mangos
*melons
*oranges (sweet)
*papaya (in moderation)
*plums (sweet)
*pomegranates
*prunes
*raisins
*strawberries (in moderation)
*watermelon
Fruits that increase Pitta (and should be avoided this time of year):
*Generally most sour fruit
*apples (sour)
*bananas
*berries (sour)
*cherries (sour)
*cranberries
*grapefruit
*green grapes
*kiwi
*lemons
*green mangoes
*oranges (sour)
*peaches
*persimmons
*plums (sour)
*rhubarb
*tamarind
Vegetables to reduce Pitta:
*In general, sweet and bitter veggies are okay
*artichoke
*asparagus
*cooked beets
*bitter melon
*broccoli
*Brussels sprouts
*cabbage
*cooked carrots
*raw carrots (in moderation)
*cauliflower
*celery
*cilantro
*cucumber
*dandelion greens
*fennel (anise)
*green beans
*Jerusalem artichoke
*kale
*leafy greens
*leeks (cooked)
*lettuce
*mushrooms
*okra
*black olives
*onions (cooked)
*parsley
*parsnips
*peas
*sweet peppers
*sweet potatoes
*white potatoes
*prickly pear leaves
*pumpkin
*cooked radishes
*rutabaga
*spaghetti squash
*sprouts (not spicy)
*squash (winter and summer)
*taro root
*watercress (in moderation)
*wheatgrass sprouts
*zucchini
Vegetables that increase Pitta (and should be avoided this time of year):
*In general, pungent veggies should be avoided
*beet greens
*raw beets
*burdock root
*fresh corn
*Daikon radish
*eggplant
*garlic
*green chilies
*horseradish
*kohlrabi
*raw leeks
*mustard greens
*green olives
*raw onions
*hot/spicy peppers
*prickly pear (the fruit)
*spinach (raw and cooked)
*tomatoes
*turnip greens
*turnips
Grains to reduce Pitta:
*amaranth
*barley
*cereal (dry)
*couscous
*crackers
*Durham flour
*granola
*oat bran
*oats (cooked)
*pancakes
*pasta
*quinoa
*rice (basmati, white, and wild)
*rice cakes
*seitan (wheat meat substitute)
*spelt
*sprouted wheat bread
*tapioca
*wheat
*wheat bran
Grains that increase Pitta (and should be avoided this time of year):
*bread (with yeast)
*buckwheat
*corn
*millet
*muesli
*oats (dry)
*polenta
*brown rice
*rye
Legumes to reduce Pitta:
*aduki beans
*black beans
*back-eyed peas
*chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
*kidney beans
*lentils (red and brown)
*lima beans
*mung beans
*mung dal
*navy beans
*peas (dried)
*pinto beans
*soybeans
*soy cheese
*soy flour (in moderation)
*soy milk
*soy powder (in moderation)
*split peas
*tempeh
*tofu
*white beans
Legumes that increase Pitta (and should be avoided this time of year):
*miso
*soy sauce
*soy sausages
*tur dal
*urad dal
Dairy to reduce Pitta:
*butter (unsalted)
*cheese (soft, not aged, unsalted)
*cottage cheese
*cow’s milk
*ghee
*goat’s milk
*goat’s cheese (soft, unsalted)
*ice cream
*yogurt (freshly made & diluted, in moderation)
Dairy that increases Pitta (and should be avoided this time of year):
*butter (salted)
*buttermilk
*cheese (hard)
*sour cream
*yogurt (plain, frozen, or with fruit)
Animal foods to reduce Pitta:
*buffalo
*chicken (white meat)
*eggs (whites only)
*fish (freshwater)
*rabbit
*shrimp (in moderation)
*turkey (white meat)
*venison
Animal foods that increase Pitta (and should be avoided this time of year):
*beef
*chicken (dark meat)
*duck
*egg yolks
*fish (sea)
*lamb
*pork
*salmon
*sardines
*seafood
*tuna
*turkey (dark meat)
Condiments to reduce Pitta:
*black pepper (in moderation)
*mango chutney (sweet)
*coriander leaves
*dulse (in moderation)
*hijiki (in moderation)
*kombu (in moderation)
*lime (in moderation)
*sprouts
*salt (in moderation)
*seaweed (in moderation)
*tamari (in moderation)
Condiments that increase Pitta (and should be avoided this time of year):
*chili pepper
*chocolate
*mango chutney (spicy)
*gomasio
*horseradish
*kelp
*ketchup
*mustard
*lemon
*mayo
*pickles
*salt (in excess)
*scallions
*soy sauce
*vinegar
Nuts that reduce Pitta:
*peeled and soaked almonds
*charole
*coconut
Nuts that increase Pitta (and should be avoided this time of year):
*almonds (with skin)
*black walnuts
*Brazil nuts
*cashews
*Filberts
*hazelnuts
*macadamia nuts
*peanuts
*pecans
*pine nuts
*pistachios
*walnuts
Seeds that reduce Pitta:
*flax
*halva
*popcorn (no salt, with butter)
*psyllium
*pumpkin (in moderation)
*sunflower
Seeds that increase Pitta (and should be avoided this time of year):
*chia
*sesame
*tahini
Oils that reduce Pitta:
*sunflower
*ghee
*canola
*olive
*soy
*flax seed
*primrose
*walnut
*(for external use only this time of year: avocado and coconut)
Oils that increase Pitta (and should be avoided this time of year):
*almond
*apricot
*corn
*safflower
*sesame
Beverages that reduce Pitta:
*alcohol (beer; dry white wine, both in moderation)
*almond milk
*aloe vera juice
*apple juice
*apricot juice
*berry juice (sweet)
*black tea (in moderation)
*carob
*chai (hot with spiced milk, in moderation)
*cherry juice (sweet)
*cool dairy drinks
*grain “coffee”
*grape juice
*mango juice
*miso broth (in moderation)
*mixed vegetable juice
*orange juice (in moderation)
*peach nectar
*pear juice
*pomegranate juice
*prune juice
*rice milk
*soy milk
*vegetable bouillon
Beverages that increase Pitta (and should be avoided this time of year):
*alcohol (hard; red and sweet wine)
*apple cider
*berry juice (sour)
*caffeinated beverages
*carbonated drinks
*carrot juice
*cherry juice (sour)
*chocolate milk
*coffee
*cranberry juice
*grapefruit juice
*iced tea
*icy cold drinks
*lemonade
*papaya juice
*pineapple juice
*tomato juice
*V-8 juice
*sour juices
Herbal teas that reduce Pitta:
*alfalfa
*barley
*blackberry
*borage
*burdock
*catnip
*chamomile
*chicory
*dandelion
*fennel
*ginger (fresh)
*hibiscus
*hops
*jasmine
*lavender
*lemon balm
*lemongrass
*licorice
*marshmallow
*nettle
*oat straw
*passionflower
*peppermint
*raspberry
*red clover
*sarsaparilla
*spearmint
*strawberry
*violet
*wintergreen
*yarrow
Herbal teas that increase Pitta (and should be avoided this time of year):
*basil
*clove
*eucalyptus
*fenugreek
*ginger (dried)
*ginseng
*hawthorn
*juniper berry
*Mormon tea
*red zinger
*rosehip
*sage
*sassafras
*Yerba Mate
Spices that reduce Pitta:
*fresh basil
*black pepper (in moderation)
*caraway (in moderation)
*cardamom (in moderation)
*cinnamon
*coriander
*cumin
*dill
*fennel
*fresh ginger
*mint
*orange peel (in moderation)
*parsley (in moderation)
*peppermint
*saffron
*spearmint
*tarragon (in moderation)
*turmeric
*vanilla (in moderation)
*wintergreen
Spices that increase Pitta (and should be avoided this time of year):
*allspice
*almond extract
*anise
*dried basil
*bay leaf
*cayenne
*cloves
*fenugreek
*garlic
*dried ginger
*mace
*marjoram
*mustard seeds
*nutmeg
*oregano
*paprika
*poppy seeds
*rosemary
*sage
*salt
*savory
*star anise
*thyme
Sweeteners that reduce Pitta:
*barley malt
*fructose
*fruit juice concentrates
*maple syrup
*rice syrup
*sucanat
*turbinado
Sweeteners that increase Pitta (and should be avoided this time of year):
*white sugar (honestly, you should be avoiding this sh*t all the time!)
*honey
*jaggary
*molasses
While this wasn’t a complete list, this info will get you well on your way to remaining balanced during this time of year.
One thing to pay attention to, as you cool down your spicy self: If you’re dry, sluggish, or unmotivated, whether by nature or just lately, check in with yourself often. Cooling foods can exacerbate those qualities. The goal is to be in balance and not create an imbalance by going too far. An honest personal assessment will help guide you on your daily Ayurvedic journey.